Humans vs. Zombies Starts Oct. 20

Release date: October 15, 2009 |

It's that time of year again – the Fall ‘09 Humans vs. Zombies game will begin at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20.

Twice every year more than 100 students at Goucher College participate in Humans vs. Zombies, a game of moderated tag invented here in 2005 by Chris Weed and Brad Sappington and now played at other colleges as well.  Players can be identified by the brightly colored bandanas they are required to wear, and the Nerf guns that human players use to stun zombies. (Please be aware that if you wear a bandana or carry a Nerf gun around during the game, you might be mistaken for a player.)

The academic buildings, dining halls, the Athenaeum, SRC, Student Health and Counseling Center, Kraushaar auditorium, the chapel, the residence hall rooms, and bathrooms are off limits for game-play, and players must sign a safety contract pledging not to display Nerf guns in these buildings.

If you see players breaking the rules, or if you have general concerns, please don't hesitate to contact GoucherHVZ@gmail.com, where an official game moderator will respond to solve your problem.  If you experience a minor noise disruption or see players displaying a Nerf gun in a "safe zone," feel free to ask the players to take the game elsewhere.  They have been instructed to comply with such requests for common courtesy.  As always, all violations of the Code of Conduct, including "disorderly conduct" and the "disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, …or other college activities," should be reported to the Office of Public Safety as well as the organizers of the game.  Noise violations in the residence halls should be reported to one’s community living assistant, the Office of Public Safety, or the Office of Community Living.

If you are hosting an event between October 20 and October 27, please send an e-mail to GoucherHVZ@gmail.com, if you want to apply to make your event a no-play zone.

To sign up for the game or if you just want more information, visit HVZSource.com. The official rules of the Humans vs. Zombies game can also be found at that website.

Presumably, as was the case with the last several Humans vs. Zombies games, this one will proceed safely and with little disruption to the community-at-large.